That was absolutely wonderful Janie. I did the same for years. And took out the and washed the good Staffordshire china and candlewick glassware.

Kids never understood the reason why the best was brought out for Thanksgiving and didn't I have enough work to do with the cooking, and house cleaning etc.

The ritual you learn at a loved parent's (or grandparent's) knee becomes important to you, a part of who you are.

My Aunt Dot had a wonderful amber colored carnival glass eggnog bowl, dipper and cups. Lovely fragile and iridescent. There was a wonderful cut glass cranberry dish that had belonged to my grandmother, that my Mom was always asking after the condition of. She now has it back, as I did not bring it to the UK with me.

What I miss most about being in Virginia is autumn and the run up to and through Thanksgiving (my fav time of year). Since moving to UK, I get really low this time of year.